Squash hybrid rx 04858033

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of squash hybrid RX 04858033 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of squash hybrid RX 04858033 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a squash plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another squash plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Appl. Ser. No.61/378,374, filed Aug. 30, 2010, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of squash hybrid RX 04858033 and theinbred squash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

One crop species which has been subject to such breeding programs and isof particular value is squash. The term squash is used to refer to fourspecies of the genus Cucurbita of the family Cucurbitaceae: (1) C.maxima, which includes the Hubbard, buttercup, and some large pumpkins,(2) C. mixta, including cushaw squash, (3) C. moschata, which includesthe butternut squash, and (4) C. pepo. Acorn squash, zucchini, yellowcrookneck and straightneck, and most pumpkins belong to this lastspecies.

The term squash encompasses pumpkins, marrows, and zucchinis.Exclusively ornamental and functional varieties are included amonggourds. There is considerable variation in size, shape and color. Atypical categorization is to distinguish between summer and wintervarieties. Summer squashes include young vegetable marrows, such aszucchini, and are harvested during the summer months. At this stage, theskin of the fruit is tender and the fruit relatively small. Common fruitforms include straightneck, crookneck, saucer shaped, and oblong.

While breeding efforts to date have provided a number of useful squashlines with beneficial traits, there remains a great need in the art fornew lines with further improved traits. Such plants would benefitfarmers and consumers alike by improving crop yields and/or quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a squash plant of thehybrid designated RX 04858033, the squash line LEB 48-4101 or squashline ZGY 130-1072. Also provided are squash plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these squash plants are also provided, for example, including pollen,an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of squash hybrid RX 04858033and/or squash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of squash hybrid RX 04858033 and/orsquash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072 is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of squash hybrid RX 04858033 and/orsquash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072. The squash seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population ofsquash seed of squash hybrid RX 04858033 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4101and ZGY 130-1072. Essentially homogeneous populations of seed aregenerally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore, seedof hybrid RX 04858033 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072may be defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed,including at least about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seedpopulation may be separately grown to provide an essentially homogeneouspopulation of squash plants designated RX 04858033 and/or squash linesLEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a squash plant of hybrid RX 04858033 and/or squash lines LEB48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072 is provided. The tissue culture will preferablybe capable of regenerating squash plants capable of expressing all ofthe physiological and morphological characteristics of the startingplant, and of regenerating plants having substantially the same genotypeas the starting plant. Examples of some of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of the hybrid RX 04858033 and/or squashlines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072 include those traits set forth in thetables herein. The regenerable cells in such tissue cultures may bederived, for example, from embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen,leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers, seed and stalks.Still further, the present invention provides squash plants regeneratedfrom a tissue culture of the invention, the plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of hybrid RX 04858033and/or squash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing squash seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent squash plant with a second parentsquash plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent squashplants is a plant of squash line LEB 48-4101 or squash line ZGY130-1072. These processes may be further exemplified as processes forpreparing hybrid squash seed or plants, wherein a first squash plant iscrossed with a second squash plant of a different, distinct genotype toprovide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of squash lineLEB 48-4101 or squash line ZGY 130-1072. In these processes, crossingwill result in the production of seed. The seed production occursregardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent squash plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent squash plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating or removing the male flowers (i.e., killing or removing thepollen or the male flowers).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent squash plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent squash plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a squash plant or hybrid squashplant.

The present invention also provides the squash seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent squash plant with asecond parent squash plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent squash plants is a plant of squash hybrid RX 04858033 and/orsquash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072. In one embodiment of theinvention, squash seed and plants produced by the process are firstgeneration (F₁) hybrid squash seed and plants produced by crossing aplant in accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant. Thepresent invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybridsquash plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention provide an F₁ hybrid squash plant and seedthereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid RX 04858033 and/or squash linesLEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid RX 04858033 and/or squashlines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid RX 04858033 and/or squash lines LEB48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072 with a second plant; and (b) crossing theprogeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation. In further embodiments, themethod may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generationwith itself or a second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid RX 04858033and/or squash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072. The plant derived fromhybrid RX 04858033 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072 maybe an inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossing steps may bedefined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce the inbred line.In the method, it may be desirable to select particular plants resultingfrom step (c) for continued crossing according to steps (b) and (c). Byselecting plants having one or more desirable traits, a plant derivedfrom hybrid RX 04858033 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072is obtained which possesses some of the desirable traits of theline/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of squashhybrid RX 04858033 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting atleast one squash from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofsquash hybrid RX 04858033 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY130-1072 is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to referto the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of whichsequences defines the phenotype of, in the present case, a squash plant,or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus representsthe genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides squash plant cells that have agenetic complement in /accordance with the squash plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid RX 04858033 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4101and ZGY 130-1072 could be identified by any of the many well knowntechniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs(RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence CharacterizedAmplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction(AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by squash plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a squash plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second squash plant, preferably, another, distinctsquash plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a squashplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a radar chart showing phenotypic traits of four varieties ofsquash: RX 04858033 (“RX0833”), Zodiac, Shorouq and a Market Standard.Fruit color, fruit length, and fruit bulb shape are described by thechart. A scale of 1 to 5 is used for each trait, wherein: 1 is dark and5 is light fruit color; 1 is a bulby and 5 is a less bulby fruit shape;and 1 is a long and 5 is a short fruit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of squash hybrid RX 04858033, squash line LEB48-4101 and squash line ZGY 130-1072. The hybrid RX 04858033 is producedby the cross of parent lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072. The parentlines show uniformity and stability within the limits of environmentalinfluence. By crossing the parent lines, uniform seed hybrid RX 04858033can be obtained.

The development of squash hybrid RX 04858033 and its parent lines can besummarized as follows.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Squash Hybrid RX 04858033

The parents of hybrid RX 04858033 are LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072.These parents were created as follows:

LEB 48-4101 was developed through 23 generations of inbreeding(controlled self pollination) and crossing. The initial source of thekey traits of value (resistance to Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV)and Watermelon Mosaic Virus II (WMV-II)) was a diverse early generationpopulation of squash distributed by Henry Munger of Cornell Universityin 1986 to collaborating seed companies and initially designated as“HMZYR”. An individual from that population was crossed to a selectionfrom the landrace “verte petite da Algera” in 1986, and then selfpollinated for 3 generations, with selection for fruit color and shapein each generation (generations 1-4). An individual was selected fromthis population after the 3 generations of inbreeding and crossed to aproprietary breeding line known as LEB 47-98 (derived from a selectionfrom cultivated landraces of squash common throughout the Middle Eastregion). This germplasm was selected and self pollinated for sixgenerations (generations 5-10), when an individual was selected andcrossed again to LEB 47-98. This population was selected and selfpollinated for six seasons (generations 11-16), when an individual wasselected and crossed to the proprietary breeding line known asLEB-47-103 (also derived from a selection from cultivated landraces ofsquash common throughout the Middle East region). This population wasthen selected and self pollinated for seven seasons (generations 17-23),after which it was designated as LEB 48-4101, and large scaleamplification of the line began.

ZGY 130-1072 was developed through 18 generations of inbreeding(controlled self pollination) and crossing. The initial sources of thekey traits of value (resistance to Zucchini Yellow Mosaic Virus (ZYMV),Watermelon Mosaic Virus II (WMV-II), and Squash leaf curl virus (SLCV))were a diverse early generation population of squash distributed byHenry Munger of Cornell University in 1986 to collaborating seedcompanies (HMZYR) and a breeding selection developed by Sergio Garzafrom the Universidad de Sonora in 1998 originally designated as A98S85.Between 1986 and 1998 an individual selection from the “HMZYR” breedingline was used for two cycles of crossing ((generations 1 and 2, toselections of the landrace “Small Green Algerian”) and repeated selfpollination (generations 3-7) to create a BC1F6 generation breedingline. This breeding line was crossed (generation 8) in 2001 to theA98S85 accession, and nine generations (9-17) of individual plantselection and self pollination ensued to create the F10 generation linethat was amplified (18) and designated as LEB 130-1072.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Squash Hybrid RX04858033, Squash Line LEB 48-4101 and Squash Line ZGY 130-1072

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of squash hybrid RX 04858033 and the parent linesthereof. A description of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line LEB48-4101 Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC LEB 48-4101 Anita 1. SpeciesPepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer (vegetable summermarrow) 4. Cotyledon average length 46.1 mm 61 mm average width 26.5 mm32.2 mm apex rounded rounded veining plainly visible plainly visiblecolor light green light green color (RHS Color Chart) 137C 137B 5.Seedling shape of cotyledons elliptic (Cora, Tivoli) elliptic intensityof green color of cotyledons light (Bianchini) light cross section ofcotyledons straight (Sunburst) straight 6. Mature Plant growth habitbush bush plant type prickly prickly 7. Main Stem cross-section shaperound round average diameter at mid-point of 1^(st) 29.6 mm 33.75 mminternode average length 67.7 cm 21.4 cm average number of internodes 27  23 8. Stem color partly green and partly green and partly yellowpartly yellow (Autumn Gold) intensity of green color medium (Cinderella)medium mottling present (Cora) present tendrils absent to absent torudimentary rudimentary (Goldrush, Sylvana) 9. Plant growth habit bush(Greyzini) bush branching absent (Goldi) absent bush varieties only:attitude of petiole semi-erect (Arlesa) semi-erect (excluding lowerexternal leaves) 10. Leaves blade shape reniform reniform blade formshallow lobed deep lobed margin denticulate denticulate margin edgesfrilled frilled average width 33 cm 34.2 cm average length 24.4 cm 29 cmleaf surface blistered blistered dorsal surface pubescence soft hairysoft hairy vental surface pubescence soft hairy soft hairy color darkgreen dark green color (RHS Color Chart) 137A 139A leaf blotching notblotched blotched with gray leaf blade: size medium large (Ambassador)leaf blade: incisions shallow (Everest) medium leaf blade: intensity ofgreen color of dark (Everest) dark upper surface leaf blade: silverypatches absent (Black Forest, present Scallopini) average petiole length26.4 cm 24.9 cm petiole length medium (Goldi) medium petiole: number ofprickles very many (Yellow medium Summer Crookneck) 11. Flowerpistillate flower: average diameter 15.1 cm 14.1 cm pistillate flower:ovary drum-like drum-like pistillate flower: average pedicel 2.2 cm 2.3cm length pistillate flower: margin shape curved curved pistillateflower: margin edges frilled plain pistillate flower: average sepalwidth 1.7 mm 1.7 mm pistillate flower: average sepal length 8.4 mm 7.1mm pistillate flower: color deep yellow deep yellow pistillate flower:color (RHS Color 17A 17A Chart) staminate flower: average sepal length13.7 mm 15.2 mm staminate flower: average sepal width 2.8 mm 2.3 mmstaminate flower: average pedicel 178.4 152 mm length staminate flower:color deep yellow deep yellow female flower: ring at inner side ofpresent (Aurore) present corolla female flower: color of ring at innergreen (Aurore, Early green side of corolla White Bush Scallop,President) female flower: intensity of green color medium (Samba, mediumof ring at inner side of corolla Senator) (varieties with green ring atinner side of corolla) male flower: ring at inner side of present(Goldi) present corolla male flower: color of ring at inner side green(Austral, green of corolla Belor, Goldi) male flower: intensity of greencolor medium (Verdi) medium of ring at inner side of corolla (varietieswith green ring at inner side of corolla) staminate flower: color 17A21A 12. Fruit (at market maturity) average length 11.5 cm 11.1 cmaverage width - stem end 4.2 cm 3.7 cm average width - blossom end 5.6cm 4.6 cm average weight 209 gm 163.8 gm shape according to variety typestraightneck straightneck apex taper pointed taper pointed baseflattened flattened ribs none inconspicuous fruit surface smooth smoothwarts none none blossom scar button raised acron raised acron 13. YoungFruit ratio length/maximum diameter small (Opal) small (zucchini typevarieties) general shape (zucchini and rounded elliptical (Table pearshaped zucchini type varieties) Dainty) main color of skin (excludingcolor of green (Elite, Opal, partly white and ribs or grooves) Romano)partly green intensity of green color of skin light (Arlika) light(excluding color of ribs or grooves; only varieties with green color ofskin) 14. Fruit general shape pear shaped pear shaped length (zucchinitype varieties) short (Jedida) short maximum diameter (zucchini typemedium (Opal) large varieties) ratio length/maximum diameter small(Jedida) medium (zucchini type varieties) blossom end (zucchini and necktype rounded rounded varieties) grooves absent absent ribs absentpresent main color of skin (excluding color of green (Ambassador, greendots, patches, stripes and bands) Baby Bear) intensity of green color ofskin very light very light (excluding color of dots, patches, stripesand bands; varieties with green color or skin) stripes in grooves absent(Baby Bear, absent Jack Be Little) color of ribs compared to main colorsame of skin (excluding color of dots, patches, stripes and bands) dotspresent (Gold Rush, present Table Queen) size of main dots small(Ambassador) large secondary green color between ribs absent (Grey(excluding dots) Zucchini, Small Sugar) warts on skin absent absent sizeof flower scar medium (Spidi) medium length of peduncle medium(Cinderella) long color of peduncle partly yellow and green partly green(Autumn Gold) intensity of green color of peduncle light (Blanchini)medium mottling of peduncle present (Elite) present 15. Ripe Fruit maincolor of skin (excluding color of cream (Bianchini, yellow mottles,patches, stripes and bands) Opal) secondary color of skin (excludingwhitish cream color of mottles, patches, stripes and bands) green hue(only white and cream) present (Amalthee) absent prominence of green hue(only white weak (Eskenderany) and cream) color of flesh cream (Elite)yellow lignified rind absent (Small Sugar, present Table Queen,Vegetable Spaghetti) structure of flesh fibrous (Vegetable fibrousSpaghetti) type rounded zucchini patches, stripes or bands in ripe stageabsent (Ambassador, (zucchini type fruit) Black Jack) 16.. Rind averagethickness at medial 2 mm 3.1 mm toughness hard hard overall colorpattern regular irregular main or ground color yellowish-whitecreamy-yellow main or ground color (RHS Color 8C 20C Chart) color ofspots yellow creamy-brown color of spots (RHS Color Chart) 11C 162Cpattern of spots not specific not specific 17. Flesh average blossom endthickness 9.2 mm 20.8 mm average medial thickness 47.6 mm 42.1 mmaverage stem end thickness 23.4 mm 26.8 mm texture (fine, granular,lumpy or stringy stringy stringy) texture (soft, firm or brittle) firmfirm texture (dry, moist or juicy) moist moist flavor insipid insipidquality good good color whitish-cream cream color (RHS Color Chart) 155D155C 18. Seed Cavity average length 17.7 cm 26 cm average width 8.1 cm9.9 cm location conforms to fruit conforms to fruit shape shapeplacental tissues abundant abundant center core inconspicuous prominent19. Fruit Stalks average length 3 cm 3.2 cm average diameter 1.9 cm 2.4cm cross-section shape irregular irregular twisting not twisted nottwisted tapering not tapered not tapered straightness straight straighttexture hard spongy furrows deep deep surface spiny spiny attachment endslightly expanded not expanded detaches easily easily color light greenmedium green color (RHS Color Chart) 144D 144B 20. Seeds average length13.5 mm 16.1 mm average width 7.2 mm 9.1 mm average thickness 2.8 mm 2.5mm face surface smooth smooth color cream cream color (RHS Color Chart)160D 162C luster dull dull margin straight straight margin edge roundedrounded separation from pulp easy easy average grams per 100 seeds 11 gm15 gm average number of seeds per fruit 131 238 seed coat normal normalsize very large (Citrouille large de Touraine) shape broad elliptic(Baby broad elliptic Boo) hull present (Baby Bear, present Elite)appearance of hull fully developed rudimentary (Elite) color of hullcream (De Nice à cream Fruit Rond) *These are typical values. Values mayvary due to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalentare also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line ZGY130-1072 Comparison ZGY Variety CHARACTERISTIC 130-1072 Grey Zucchini 1.Species Pepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer summer(vegetable marrow) 4. Cotyledon length 42.5 mm 50 mm width 26.6 mm 27 mm5. Main Stem diameter at mid-point of 1^(st) 32.9 mm 33.4 mm internodeaverage length 17.6 cm 32.2 cm average number of internodes  12 32.9 6.Leaves average width 27.6 cm 37.00 cm average length 23.5 cm 28.9 cmaverage petiole length 28.8 cm 25 cm 7. Flower pistillate flower:average diameter 18.1 cm 14.3 cm pistillate flower: average pedicellength 2.3 cm 2.5 cm pistillate flower: average sepal width 1.8 mm 2 mmpistillate flower: average sepal length 7.3 mm 6.2 mm staminate flower:average sepal length 7.2 mm 11.3 mm staminate flower: average sepalwidth 1.3 mm 7.8 mm staminate flower: average pedicel length 165 mm141.6 mm 8. Fruit market maturity: average length 15.3 cm 12.4 cm marketmaturity: average width - 3.4 cm 3.9 cm stem end at market maturity:average 4.5 cm 4.5 cm width - blossom end market maturity: averageweight 189 gm 174 gm 9. Rind average thickness at medial 2.9 mm 3.3 mm10. Flesh average blossom end thickness 20.8 mm 21.2 mm average medialthickness 38.4 mm 45.6 mm average stem end thickness 22 mm 27.7 mm 11.Seed Cavity average length 29.1 cm 23.4 cm average width 7.9 cm 7.3 cm12. Fruit Stalks average length 2.8 cm 3.3 cm average diameter 1.5 cm2.1 cm 13. Seeds average length 13.2 mm 11.8 mm average width 9.4 mm 7.5mm average thickness 2.6 mm 2.8 mm average grams per 100 seeds 14.6 gm10.4 gm average number of seeds per fruit 196 246   *These are typicalvalues. Values may vary due to environment. Other values that aresubstantially equivalent are also within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Hybrid RX04858033 Comparison Variety CHARACTERISTIC RX 04853033 Anita 1. SpeciesPepo Pepo 2. Kind/Use squash squash 3. Type summer (vegetable summermarrow) 4. Cotyledon length 52.84 mm 51.9 mm width 31.1 mm 30.5 mm apexrounded rounded veining plainly visible plainly visible color dark greenlight green color (RHS Color Chart) 147A 137B 5. Seedling shape ofcotyledons elliptic (Cora, Tivoli) elliptic intensity of green color ofdark (Lidia) light cotyledons cross section of cotyledons straight(Sunburst) straight 6. Mature Plant growth habit bush bush plant typeprickly prickly 7. Main Stem cross-section shape round round diameter atmid-point of 1^(st) 30.7 mm 29.2 mm internode average length 33.7 cm31.6 cm average number of internodes   19.5  23.5 8. Stem colorcompletely green partly green and (Becky) partly yellow intensity ofgreen color medium (Cinderella) medium mottling present (Cora) presenttendrils absent to rudimentary absent to rudimentary (Goldrush, Sylvana)9. Plant growth habit bush (Greyzini) bush branching absent (Goldi)absent attitude of petiole (excluding semi-erect to horizontalsemi-erect lower external leaves) (Goldi) 10. Leaves blade shapereniform reniform blade form shallow lobed deep lobed margin denticulatedenticulate margin edges frilled frilled average width 36.7 cm 36.8 cmaverage length 28 cm 29 cm leaf surface blistered blistered dorsalsurface pubescence glabrous soft hairy ventral surface pubescencebristled soft hairy color dark green dark green color (RHS Color Chart)147A 139A leaf blotching blotched with gray blotched with gray leafblade: size very large large leaf blade: incisions medium (Jackpot)medium leaf blade: intensity of green dark (Everest) dark color of uppersurface leaf blade: silvery patches present (Civac) present leaf blade:relative area covered medium (Ambassador) medium by silvery patchesleaves: petiole length 29.2 cm 33.05 cm petiole: length medium (Goldi)medium petiole: number of prickles medium (Spidy) medium 11. Flowerpistillate flower: average 16.8 cm 13.7 cm diameter pistillate flower:ovary drum-like drum-like pistillate flower: average 1.8 cm 2 cm pedicellength pistillate flower: margin shape curved curved pistillate flower:margin edges frilled plain pistillate flower: average sepal 1.6 mm 1.5mm width pistillate flower: average sepal 7.05 mm 6.5 mm lengthpistillate flower: color deep yellow deep yellow pistillate flower:color (RHS 17A 17A Color Chart) staminate flower: average sepal 14.7 mm16.3 mm length staminate flower: average sepal 3.15 mm 2.5 mm widthstaminate flower: average 156.7 mm 147 mm pedicel length staminateflower: color deep yellow deep yellow female flower: ring at inner sidepresent (Aurore) present of corolla female flower: color of ring atgreen (Aurore, Early green inner side of corolla White Bush Scallop,President) female flower: intensity of medium (Samba, medium green colorof ring at inner side Senator) of corolla (only varieties with greenring at inner side of corolla) male flower: ring at inner side present(Goldi) present of corolla male flower: color of ring at green (Austral,Belor, green inner side of corolla Goldi) male flower: intensity ofgreen medium (Verdi) medium color of ring at inner side of corollastaminate flower: color (RHS 23A 21A Color Chart) 12. Fruit (at marketmaturity) length 14.4 cm 12.4 cm average width - stem end 4 cm 3.8 cmaverage width - blossom end 5.7 cm 4.6 cm average weight 270.6 gm 208.4gm shape according to variety type straightneck straightneck apex taperpointed taper pointed base flattened flattened ribs inconspicuousinconspicuous rib furrow depth shallow shallow rib furrow width mediumwide narrow fruit surface smooth smooth warts none none blossom scarbutton raised acorn raised acorn 13. Young fruit ratio length/maximumlarge (Carlotta) small diameter general shape pear shaped (Clarita) pearshaped main color of skin (excluding green (Elite, Opal, partly whiteand color of ribs or grooves) Romano) partly green intensity of greencolor of skin light (Arlika) light (excluding color of ribs or grooves)14. Fruit general shape pear shaped pear shaped length short (Jedida)short maximum diameter medium (Opal) large ratio length/maximum medium(Cora) medium diameter blossom end rounded rounded grooves presentabsent depth of grooves very shallow (Spooktacular) ribs present presentprotrusion of ribs very weak (Leda, weak Tivoli) main color of skin(excluding partly white and partly green color of dots, patches, stripesgreen and bands) intensity of green color of skin very light very light(excluding color of dots, patches, stripes and bands) stripes in groovesabsent (Baby Bear, Jack absent Be Little) color of ribs compared to mainsame color of skin (excluding color of dots, patches, stripes and bands)dots present (Gold Rush, present Table Queen) size of main dots medium(Grey large Zucchini) secondary green color between absent (GreyZucchini, ribs (excluding dots) Small Sugar) warts on skin absent absentsize of flower scar large (Cinderella) medium length of peduncle medium(Cinderella) long color of peduncle green (Ambassador) green intensityof green color of light (Bianchini) medium peduncle mottling of pedunclepresent (Elite) present type zucchini patches, stripes or bands in ripeabsent (Ambassador, stage Black Jack) 15. Ripe fruit main color of skin(excluding yellow (Gold Rush) yellow color of mottles, patches, stripesand bands) intensity of main color of skin dark dark (only yellow andorange) secondary color of skin orange cream (excluding color ofmottles, patches, stripes and bands) green hue (only white and absentcream) color of flesh cream (Elite) yellow lignified rind present(Elite, Little present Gem, Scallopini, Yellow Summer Crookneck)structure of flesh fibrous (Vegetable fibrous Spaghetti) 16. Rindthickness at medial 2.8 mm 3.1 mm toughness hard hard overall colorpattern regular irregular main or ground color yellow creamy-yellow mainor ground color (RHS 13B 20C Color Chart) color of streaks yellow-whiteyellow-orange color of streaks (RHS Color 13D 16A Chart) pattern ofstreaks blossom end half not specific color of spots yellow-whitecreamy-brown color of spots (RHS Color 13D 162C Chart) pattern of spotsnot specific not specific 17. Flesh average blossom end thickness 14.8mm 14.4 mm average medial thickness 79.1 mm 78.9 mm average stem endthickness 17.7 mm 17.6 mm texture (fine, granular, lumpy or fine stringystringy) texture (soft, firm or brittle) soft firm texture (dry, moistor juicy) juicy moist flavor insipid insipid quality good good coloryellow-cream cream color (RHS Color Chart) 2D 155C 18. Seed Cavityaverage length 27.4 cm 28.1 cm average width 9 cm 10.1 cm locationconforms to fruit shape conforms to fruit shape placental tissueabundant abundant center core prominent prominent 19. Fruit Stalksaverage length 2.65 cm 3.3 cm average diameter 2.1 cm 2.5 cmcross-section shape irregular irregular twisting not twisted not twistedtapering tapered not tapered straightness straight straight texture hardspongy furrows deep deep surface rough spiny attachment end expanded notexpanded detaches easily easily color light green medium green color(RHS Color Chart) 145B 144B 20. Seeds average length 15.5 mm 16.3 mmaverage width 9.65 mm 9.15 mm average thickness 2 mm 2.5 mm face surfacewrinkled smooth color cream cream color (RHS Color Chart) 162D 162Cluster dull dull margin curved straight margin edge rounded roundedseparation from pulp moderately easy easy average grams per 100 seeds14.1 gm 16.5 gm average number of seeds per 365 346.5 fruit seed coatnormal normal size large large shape broad elliptic (Baby broad ellipticBoo) hull present (Baby Bear, present Elite) appearance of hullrudimentary (Baby rudimentary Bear) color of hull cream (De Nice à Fruitcream Rond) *These are typical values. Values may vary due toenvironment. Other values that are substantially equivalent are alsowithin the scope of the invention.

C. Breeding Squash Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof squash hybrid RX 04858033 involving crossing squash lines LEB 48-4101and ZGY 130-1072. Alternatively, in other embodiments of the invention,hybrid RX 04858033, line LEB 48-4101, or line ZGY 130-1072 may becrossed with itself or with any second plant. Such methods can be usedfor propagation of hybrid RX 04858033 and/or the squash lines LEB48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072, or can be used to produce plants that arederived from hybrid RX 04858033 and/or the squash lines LEB 48-4101 andZGY 130-1072. Plants derived from hybrid RX 04858033 and/or the squashlines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072 may be used, in certain embodiments,for the development of new squash varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid RX 04858033 followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross with RX04858033 and/or squash lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072 for thepurpose of developing novel squash lines, it will typically be preferredto choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or moreselected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirabletraits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance orresistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions.Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and tasteare other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines ofsquash plants developed by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid RX 04858033 exhibits desirable agronomictraits. The performance characteristics of hybrid RX 04858033 were thesubject to objective analysis relative to other varieties. FIG. 1 showsa radar plot of the characteristics of hybrid RX 04858033 in comparisonto other varieties.

Additional results of the analysis of the performance characteristics ofhybrid RX 04858033 are presented below.

TABLE 4 Performance Characteristics For Hybrid RX 04858033 andComparison Hybrids Results Comparison Average of Syria, Jordan,Variety - MVR Lebanon, and West Bank RX 04858033 Resistant (Squash 1)Commercial Yield (T/ha) 15.60 12.06 Fruit Shape Bulby Less Bulby FruitColor Lighter than Anita Darker than Anita ZYMV & WMV ResistanceResistant Resistant SLCV Resistance Intermediate Susceptible ResistanceFlower Attachment Medium Strong

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those squash plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalsquash plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental squash plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a squash plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny squash plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of squash the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of squash plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs(RAPDs), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence CharacterizedAmplified Regions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction(AP-PCR), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., 1985). Moreover, recent technological advances in vectorsfor Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer have improved the arrangementof genes and restriction sites in the vectors to facilitate theconstruction of vectors capable of expressing various polypeptide codinggenes. The vectors described have convenient multi-linker regionsflanked by a promoter and a polyadenylation site for direct expressionof inserted polypeptide coding genes. Additionally, Agrobacteriumcontaining both armed and disarmed Ti genes can be used fortransformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., 1985; U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., 1985; Omirulleh et al., 1993; Fromm et al., 1986;Uchimiya et al., 1986; Marcotte et al., 1988). Transformation of plantsand expression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(1994), and Ellul et al. (2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., 1985), including in monocots(see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, 1990); atandemly duplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35Spromoter (P-e35S);1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., 1988);the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., 1989); and the figwortmosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter (P-eFMV) where the promotersequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem; the cauliflower mosaic virus19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform virus promoter; a commelina yellowmottle virus promoter; and other plant DNA virus promoters known toexpress in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., 1988), (2)light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., 1989; maize rbcSpromoter, Schaffner and Sheen, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-binding proteinpromoter, Simpson et al., 1985), (3) hormones, such as abscisic acid(Marcotte et al., 1989), (4) wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al.,1989); or (5) chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, orSafener. It may also be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters(e.g., Roshal et al., 1987; Schernthaner et al., 1988; Bustos et al.,1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a squash plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a squash plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., 1991). The RNA could also be a catalytic RNA molecule (i.e., aribozyme) engineered to cleave a desired endogenous mRNA product (seefor example, Gibson and Shillito, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces aprotein or mRNA which expresses a phenotype or morphology change ofinterest is useful for the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele: Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all ofwhich alleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cellor organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding locion a pair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing: A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybridprogeny, for example a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of theparents of the hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce oneor more single locus conversions from one genetic background intoanother.

Crossing: The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination: Fertilization by the union of two gametes fromdifferent plants.

Diploid: A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate: The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation ofthe organs with a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemicalagent conferring male sterility.

Enzymes: Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid: The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenicplants.

Genotype: The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid: A cell or organism having one set of the two sets ofchromosomes in a diploid.

Linkage: A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend tosegregate together more often than expected by chance if theirtransmission was independent.

Marker: A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited incodominant fashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygoteare readily detectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype: The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL): Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer togenetic loci that control to some degree numerically representabletraits that are usually continuously distributed.

Resistance: As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” areused interchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to aspecified biotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmentalcondition. These terms are also used to describe plants showing somesymptoms but that are still able to produce marketable product with anacceptable yield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant ortolerant are only so in the sense that they may still produce a crop,even though the plants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration: The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value: The RHS color chartis a standardized reference which allows accurate identification of anycolor. A color's designation on the chart describes its hue, brightnessand saturation. A color is precisely named by the RHS color chart byidentifying the group name, sheet number and letter, e.g., Yellow-OrangeGroup 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination: The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigmaof the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant: Plants which are developed bya plant breeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially allof the morphological and physiological characteristics of a squashvariety are recovered in addition to the characteristics of the singlelocus transferred into the variety via the backcrossing technique and/orby genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent: A characteristic that, when compared, does notshow a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from themean.

Tissue Culture: A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or adifferent type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of aplant.

Transgene: A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has beenintroduced into the genome of a squash plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of squash hybrid RX 04858033 and inbred parent lines LEB48-4101 and ZGY 130-1072, disclosed above and recited in the claims, hasbeen made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. All deposits were made onOctober 13, 2010. The accession numbers for those deposited seeds ofsquash hybrid RX 04858033 and inbred parent lines LEB 48-4101 and ZGY130-1072 are ATCC Accession Number PTA-11347, ATCC Accession NumberPTA-11348, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11349, respectively. Uponissuance of a patent, all restrictions upon the deposits will beremoved, and the deposits are intended to meet all of the requirementsof 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. The deposits will be maintained in thedepository for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request,or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and willbe replaced if necessary during that period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

REFERENCES

The following references, to the extent that they provide exemplaryprocedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, arespecifically incorporated herein by reference:

-   U.S. Pat. No.5,378,619-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,175-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,365-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,435-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052-   U.S. Pat. No. 5,880,275-   An et al., Plant Physiol., 88:547, 1988.-   Bird et al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991.-   Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989.-   Callis et al., Plant Physiol., 88:965, 1988.-   Choi et al., Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994.-   Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591, 1990.-   Ellul et al., Theor. Appl. Genet., 107:462-469, 2003.-   EP 534 858-   Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985.-   Fromm et al., Nature, 312:791-793, 1986.-   Fromm et al., Plant Cell, 1:977, 1989.-   Gibson and Shillito, Mol. Biotech., 7:125,1997-   Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985.-   Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989.-   Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988.-   Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989.-   Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985.-   Omirulleh et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993.-   Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985.-   Roshal et al., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987.-   Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991.-   Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988.-   Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989.-   Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985.-   Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990.-   Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986.-   Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998.-   Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990.-   WO 99/31248

What is claimed is :
 1. A squash plant comprising at least a first setof the chromosomes of squash line LEB 48-4101 or squash line ZGY130-1072, a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited underATCC Accession Number PTA-11348, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11349,respectively.
 2. A seed comprising at least a first set of thechromosomes of squash line LEB 48-4101 or squash line ZGY 130-1072, asample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-11348, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11349, respectively. 3.The plant of claim 1, which is inbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which ishybrid.
 5. The plant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant is squashhybrid RX 04858033, a sample of seed of said hybrid RX 04858033 havingbeen deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11347.
 6. The plant ofclaim 1, wherein the plant is a plant of line LEB 48-4101 or line ZGY130-1072.
 7. A plant part of the plant of claim
 1. 8. The plant part ofclaim 7, further defined as a leaf, a ovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.9. A squash plant having all the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the squash plant of claim
 5. 10. A squash planthaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of thesquash plant of claim
 6. 11. A tissue culture of regenerable cells ofthe plant of claim
 1. 12. The tissue culture according to claim 11,comprising cells or protoplasts from a plant part selected from thegroup consisting of embryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves,anthers, roots, root tips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 13. A squashplant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim
 12. 14. A method ofvegetatively propagating the plant of claim 1 comprising the steps of:(a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from a plant accordingto claim 1; (b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferated shoots;and (c) rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets. 15.The method of claim 14, further comprising growing at least a firstplant from said rooted plantlets.
 16. A method of introducing a desiredtrait into a squash line comprising: (a) crossing a plant of line LEB48-4101 or ZGY 130-1072 with a second squash plant that comprises adesired trait to produce F1 progeny, a sample of seed of said lineshaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11348, and ATCCAccession Number PTA-11349, respectively; (b) selecting an F1 progenythat comprises the desired trait; (c) backcrossing the selected F1progeny with a plant of line LEB 48-4101 or ZGY 130-1072 to producebackcross progeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprising thedesired trait and the physiological and morphological characteristic ofsquash line LEB 48-4101 or ZGY 130-1072; and (e) repeating steps (c) and(d) three or more times to produce selected fourth or higher backcrossprogeny that comprise the desired trait.
 17. A squash plant produced bythe method of claim
 16. 18. A method of producing a plant comprising anadded trait, the method comprising introducing a transgene conferringthe trait into a plant of hybrid RX 04858033, line LEB 48-4101 or lineZGY 130-1072, a sample of seed of said hybrid and lines having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11347, ATCC Accession NumberPTA-11348, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11349, respectively.
 19. Aplant produced by the method of claim
 18. 20. The plant of claim 1,comprising a transgene.
 21. The plant of claim 20, wherein the transgeneconfers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, diseaseresistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.
 22. The plant of claim 1, comprising a single locusconversion.
 23. The plant of claim 22, wherein the single locusconversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of malesterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance,disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.
 24. A method for producing a seed of a plant derived from atleast one of hybrid RX 04858033, line LEB 48-4101 or line ZGY 130-1072comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a squash plant of hybrid RX04858033, line LEB 48-4101 or line ZGY 130-1072 with itself or a secondsquash plant; a sample of seed of said hybrid and lines having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11347, ATCC Accession NumberPTA-11348, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-11349, respectively; and (b)allowing seed of a hybrid RX 04858033, line LEB 48-4101 or line ZGY130-1072-derived squash plant to form.
 25. The method of claim 24,further comprising the steps of: (c) selfing a plant grown from saidhybrid RX 04858033, LEB 48-4101 or ZGY 130-1072-derived squash seed toyield additional hybrid RX 04858033, line LEB 48-4101 or line ZGY130-1072-derived squash seed; (d) growing said additional hybrid RX04858033, line LEB 48-4101 or line ZGY 130-1072-derived squash seed ofstep (c) to yield additional hybrid RX 04858033, line LEB 48-4101 orline ZGY 130-1072-derived squash plants; and (e) repeating the crossingand growing steps of (c) and (d) to generate at least a first furtherhybrid RX 04858033, line LEB 48-4101 or line ZGY 130-1072-derived squashplant.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the second squash plant is ofan inbred squash line.
 27. The method of claim 24, comprising crossingline LEB 48-4101 with line ZGY 130-1072, a sample of seed of said lineshaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-11348, and ATCCAccession Number PTA-11349, respectively.
 28. The method of claim 25,further comprising: (f) crossing the further hybrid RX 04858033, LEB48-4101 or ZGY 130-1072-derived squash plant with a second squash plantto produce seed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 29. A hybrid seed produced bythe method of claim
 27. 30. A plant produced by growing the seed ofclaim
 27. 31. A plant part of the plant of claim
 30. 32. The plant partof claim 31, further defined as a leaf, a flower, a fruit, an ovule,pollen, or a cell.
 33. A method of producing a squash seed comprisingcrossing the plant of claim 1 with itself or a second squash plant andallowing seed to form.
 34. A method of producing a squash fruitcomprising: (a) obtaining a plant according to claim 1, wherein theplant has been cultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting a squash fromthe plant.